Looking Back

I was just cleaning off my memory card and I came across this video.

I can't believe how tiny he was!!! I guess compared to some newborns he's big, but compared to the boy I see everyday he's such a little peanut. 

And dude, he is seriously strong! He's still extremely strong, but at 3 days old...wowza!

Aww how I miss the newborn days...just not the lack of sleep :-)

Ten Years

September 11, 2001

I specifically remember getting out of my Writing 101 class early, super pumped because it was my only class of the day.

Walking out of Anderson hall, across Church Street and into my dorm, Wayne Hall.

Of course the lobby was empty and quiet, not too many college students are stirring before 9 am on a Tuesday. But this silence had a weird feel to it. As I turned to see what the RA behind the front desk was staring at so intently, my roommate came through the front door and stopped beside me. The RA turned to us and told us we should turn the TV on in our room, something horrible had happened. As we hurried up to the 8th floor we were trying to figure out what was going on.

Flipping on the TV, the screen was filled with images we could hardly believe were real! As we were slacked jaw and staring, the second plane hit. We were floored. Within the next few minutes doors were opening up and down the halls and people running from room to room trying to make sense of what was happening. I remember staring at the tiny screen at all the debris falling only to realize that it wasn't all debris. I remember watching the first tower fall, then the second. I remember bonding more with complete strangers that day than ever before. For most of us it
was our first time really away from home, away from the security of the people we love. Phone lines were jammed and we couldn't even talk to our loved ones. I don't think a college floor was ever as close as we become because of what we experienced that day together.

I remember the candlelight vigil held in the academic quad. And the bells that they rang. Everyday at noon they would ring the bells in a variety of tunes, but this one is ingrained in my head forever. One that would bring tears to my eyes on the rare occasion they would play it again.

I remember for days later laying in bed at night talking to my roommate as we stared out the window at the dark sky, freaking out if we saw a blinking light because of the no fly ban and maybe a plane was heading for our dorm next.

I remember a few days later the darkness as the smoke moved south and filled our sky.

I will always remember. I will never forget.

(Ground Zero in 2009)

4 Years Ago

Today marks 4 years since I agreed to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!

(Don't mind the time stamps on all the pictures, they are from my old camera and I was a weirdo and liked to have the dates on my pictures. Guess I didn't think it was ruining them.)

I still can remember the day like yesterday. It was a surprisingly warm day for December and I was working at our buyback van out in Millersville. A month or so prior we decided that it would be fun to see the Philly orchestra's Christmas special. December was going to be a busy month for both of us (story of our lives) with finals for him and work for me, so it was nice to have a date on the calendar to actually see each other.

We got dressed up and met at his parents since they don't live to far outside the city. Since we don't do that much his parents took pictures of us, or so I thought. I had no idea what was coming that evening, but they did.

Quick side note... I had bought that sweater for him from Banana awhile back and it was the first time I saw him in it. Apparently I put my hand on his chest when I was admiring it, and he had the ring in his shirt pocket and I almost touched it. Oops.

In a quick recap:

We saw the orchestra, which was awesome. Then we got stuck in a parking garage traffic jam. Walked around Independence hall area and stopped in a small park 'to take a picture'. Little did I know that was an excuse to carry his camera bag which held the ring box. After a sweet talk, he said that since tomorrow was one year since we first said "I love you", there was no better way to express that love than to spend the rest of our lives together. Once I finally said 'yes' (and got over the fact that the box actually was glowing and it wasn't in my head), we rushed to the corner for a horse and carriage ride. Which is a story in itself since we were so late because of the traffic. But we got our ride around old city which was super fun. Then we got back to his house where his family was waiting up and had a sweet little celebration set up for us. The next day we drove out to my family to tell/show them and then to church were Kevin had called all my close friends to make sure they were there so I could show off the ring to all of them at once.

Ah the memories. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time, but I'm so glad that I did. Best decision of my life.

Love you babe!!!

Freak Out

I remember when I was younger and had to stay home alone, I would get freaked out. It probably didn't help that we lived in the middle of the woods with the closest neighbor outside of screaming distance.

I would hear a floorboard creak upstairs and immediately there was someone else in the house. Why they broke in upstairs, I'm not sure, but they did, and now they were going to come down the stairs to get me! I was always a little relieved when the cat came sprinting down, but part of me stayed on guard. Any sound that was out of the norm would blow up into some huge crazy story in my head. Did I mention that I have an overactive imagination?

Kevin is out camping with the boys and I am stuck home alone. Being the bum that I am, I'm sitting on the couch watching The Office and making beads when I hear a loud noise back in the bedroom. Crap! What was that? We live in the 3rd floor condo, there's no way someone could be in here, right? I flick on the hall light because there's no way I'm walking back a dark hallway. As I reach our room and turn on the light I start to laugh, partly still freaked out, partly relieved to know the cause of the noise.

For some reason one of the blinds decided that it didn't want to be down and shot up. Why? How? I'm still trying to figure that out. We've lived here for over a year and it has never happened before. Why did it have to happen when I'm here alone? So not cool. I may be sleeping on the couch tonight...with the TV on to keep me company...

I'm Free, Free Falling...

I have had that song stuck in my head since we sang it during club on Sunday!

Happy First Day of FALL!!!

Can you believe that summer is actually over? It just feels like the other day I was so excited to break out the shorts and sundresses. Trudging down to the pool every evening just to get some sun, relax, read and swim a few laps before dinner. Planning vacation with both families, that are now just memories. Where did summer go?

Maybe it seems shorter because most of June was chilly and overcast. I don't know what the reason, but now it's time to enjoy a new season. I am a summer lover 110%, but there is something about Fall that's magical. Maybe is the chilly nights, where you can wear jeans and a hoodie, or that you can now snuggle up on the couch, under a blanket with your love. (Okay, I'm guilty of using a blanket in the summer too, but Kevin is mister hot blood and won't even come close to one). I love watching the leaves change colors (but cry when they fall). Love hot apple cider, carving pumpkins, and bonfires.

It's a bittersweet time, saying goodbye to my precious Summer and sun, but at least I don't mind welcoming Fall in with open arms. Winter on the other hand...
But I still have a while before I have to worry about that dreaded time. :-)

Summers Ago

I miss my summers. :-( They still exist, it's still like a sauna outside, hazy, hot and humid. Thunderstorms still roll in after a long day. Kids still have off from school. Picnics and fairs and pool parties almost every weekend. Yard sales galore. But alas, I have to work.

I worked all summer in high school and college, but I had the job most teens covet. I got to sit high, looking down on the refreshingly cool, blue water, and yell "WALK!"
I got to see my friends, make a few new ones (most under 3 feet tall), watch my skin turn a deep, golden brown, all while earning my living. The life!

I also had the privileged to teach swimming lessons. There's nothing like teaching little ones to swim. The way they cling to you for dear life in the beginning, or are afraid to set foot off the stairs, to blowing bubbles, and going under the water. From realizing that kicking with a straight leg makes them go so much faster, to having them put their complete trust in you to help them float. I miss seeing their cute, little blue lips chatter after the half hour, but still want to jump off the diving board once before they leave.

Nothing beats the serene calmness of laying out on the picnic tables or diving boards after rushing around to see how fast we can complete the opening procedures so we can relax. Nothing beats being the first one to dive into a pool that is as smooth as glass. Nothing beats the surge of adrenaline every time you start the pool pump back up with a loud rumble and whoosh and praying that it won't explode. Or the stench of chlorine (excuse me, hypo chloride) when you check to see how much is left in the tank. Or the rush of cleaning up as a storm rolls in and mud/grass sliding as it passes. The joy on kids faces when they ask to open 'the pit' and we yell 'dives are closed', so they can play sharks and minnows, the movie game, and swim down to the depths.

I miss my summers.